"This," he cried again, with passionate energy. "The others will talk about giving up now and saving ourselves, but whatever I say you must support me. Promise me you will." "That I will." "Oh, here you are then, gentlemen," cried Dan forcing his way in to where the two lads were standing. "Ahoy! Buck! Heave ahead! Here they are! Why, we have been hunting for you everywhere, gents. You must be better, Mr Mark." "Ay, that's so," cried Buck, coming up; "but I don't believe we should have found you if it hadn't been for these 'ere two. I believe little Pig here sniffed you out all the way. Aren't you tired?" Mark shook his head, and Buck gave him a look as much as to say "I don't believe you." "Well, we are a good way from camp, my lad. If you will take my advice, Mr Mark, you will lie down and have a snooze while we light a fire and get ready something to eat." "No, don't do that," said Mark angrily. "We must go on." "Go on, sir? Where?" "Where? Back to the ruins." "You can't do it, sir. It's just about madness. You are talking wild. What do you say, Dan? Don't leave it all to me." "Same as you do, messmate." "There, Mr Mark; and I put it to you, Mr Dean; isn't it about playing the lunatic for him to think of going to the help of Sir James, and the captain, with him like this?" "Don't ask me, Buck," cried Dean excitedly. "My cousin is determined to go, and I have promised to help him." "Of course you would, sir. But Mr Mark, sir, just think!" "I have thought, Buck. It is my duty, and I appeal to you and Dan to come with me. Those faithful blacks will help, if they see you are with us, and go I must." "Nay, sir. That's very well for you to talk, and I suppose folks would say it is very grand to go and throw away your life trying to save your father. If they gets to know of it at home they will say you are a hero, and write about you being a fine example. All very fine for you, because you are a gentleman; but I'm only an or'nary sort of fellow, and I don't want people to write about me." "That will do," cried Mark angrily. "Go with them, Dean, old fellow." Dean shook his head. "I don't want to be a hero," continued Mark. "I want to save my father, and if I can't save him I'm going to die too. There, good-bye. I have talked about people being cowards, but it is only because I am half wild with misery. You have all done your best, and I know what I want you all to do is impossible. Shake hands and say good-bye." Mark shook hands with the men in turn. "Now you," he said, and he held out his hand to the blacks, who advanced smiling as if they did not understand, but took it that it was something all right, and then shrank back. Mark hesitated for a moment, and there was something piteous in his look as he turned to the big driver again.